Megayon 2009 To Show Zambosur’s Best

THE 2009 MEGAYON Festival will be the grandest and the most colorful of all the past festivals held in Zamboanga del Sur, Provincial Tourism Officer Anthony Frederick Padayhag said.

Not only will the 2009 Megayon Festival offer the finest, added Padayhag, it will also draw attention to Gov. Aurora Cerilles’ last term of governance and the many accomplishments she did for the province.

Padayhag explains the Megayon Festival for this year will be a sort of tribute to the leadership of the governor and wants to make it more impressive and memorable than the previous ones.

The festival, which celebrates the province’s 57th founding anniversary this year, will officially open on September 11 and culminate on the 17th, the governor’s birthday.

Megayon, a Subanen word for unity, traces its history from an artist-led cultural event that started in 1996 at the foot of Mt. Timulan.

In 2006, the Provincial Government, through Ordinance No. 016-2006, officially adopted the Megayon Festival for the annual celebration of the founding anniversary of the province.

Carrying the theme, “Lig-ong Pangagamhanan, Tuburan sa Kalambuan, Legasiya sa Kasamtangang Pamunuan,” several pre-festival events are being lined-up like the two legs of “Tour of Zambosur” scheduled on Sept. 5-6.

The “Tour of Zambosur” is the latest addition to the unity games lined up by the province, sponsored by the Provincial Government and in partnership with the Pagadian Extreme Bikers, Inc. (PEBI).

The blessing and ribbon cutting of the New Stage at the AHC Byahe Na! Site will be held on September 11, on the kick-off day. The simultaneous opening of the Agro-Trade Fair and Private Ornamental Exhibit will be also on said date.

September 14 will be the Sepak Takraw Competition and the Taekwondo Competition on Sept. 15. Padayhag noted that the annual beauty pageant “Search for Miss Zamboanga del Sur 2009” is being included in the list of activities with 24 candidates.

As additional information, Cerilles disclosed that Secretaries Ronaldo Puno of DILG, Ace Durano of DOT, PAGCOR Chair Efraim Genuino and football star Jose Marie Martinez will be the invited guests for the celebration while the Provincial Government Center in Dao is the official venue of all the activities of the 2009 Megayon Festival.